In what should have been an ordinary afternoon in Little Rock, Arkansas, a tragedy unfolded outside the Rockefeller Early Childhood Center. On August 20, 2025, Michelle Butler, a 36-year-old female employee of the Little Rock School District, was brutally killed in the parking lot of her workplace. The incident, which happened around 2:54 p.m., sent shockwaves through the community, leaving friends, family, and colleagues to mourn a life cut short.
Butler was a mother and was remembered by a friend as a fun-loving and supportive person who was always smiling and willing to help.
The circumstances of Michelle Butler's death were particularly violent. According to reports, she was first run over multiple times with a vehicle. The assailant then reportedly retrieved a gun from Butler's own car and shot her multiple times as she lay on the ground. Despite the quick response of medical personnel, her injuries were too severe, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. The tragic event was described by authorities as an isolated domestic incident.
In the immediate aftermath, law enforcement quickly identified a suspect. A description of the suspect's vehicle was broadcast, and patrol officers located it a short time later. The driver, 29-year-old Duane Nooner, was taken into custody. It was later revealed that Nooner was in a romantic relationship with Michelle Butler. He was subsequently charged with capital murder.
During the investigation, Duane Nooner reportedly confessed to the crime. According to court documents and police statements, he admitted to running over Butler with a car and then shooting her. Video footage from the scene corroborated his confession, showing the horrific sequence of events. Nooner was held without bond at the Pulaski County Regional Jail. In a subsequent court appearance, he pleaded not guilty to the capital murder charge, and the case was set to proceed through the legal system.
